Lightbox
A lightbox opens media in a larger viewer and darkens the page around it.
<dialog>A real example
Select a photo to open a full-size view with a caption. It has Previous, Next, and Close buttons.
Main parts
- 01Trigger
- 02Anchored or modal surface
- 03Focus boundary
- 04Dismiss path
Use it when
Use it to look closely at media without losing the current place in the gallery.
Do not use it when
Never use it for a task that needs complex editing or side-by-side comparison.
Name used in code
<dialog> Before you ship
Move focus on purpose. Keep it inside only when the overlay blocks the page. Support Escape and a visible close button, then return focus to the opener. Keep entered data and check small-screen, loading, and failure states.
Outcome: Use Lightbox to solve this user need without losing the current context. User context: Select a photo to open a full-size view with a caption. It has Previous, Next, and Close buttons. Recommended pattern: Lightbox. Why it fits: Use it to look closely at media without losing the current place in the gallery. Do not use it when: Never use it for a task that needs complex editing or side-by-side comparison. Product requirements: Define the default, loading, empty, error, success, and recovery states. Keep user input. Give clear feedback after every action. Accessibility and resilience: Use semantic HTML, full keyboard access, and visible focus. Make the layout work when zoomed and support reduced motion. Follow the project’s current rules. Do not add a new UI library unless the project already uses it. Acceptance criteria: The main task works with keyboard only and at 320px width. Focus and status changes are announced. Check loading, failure, retry, cancel, and reduced-motion paths. Evidence and limits (evidence boundary): No single official standard controls the whole term. Its meaning may change across teams, platforms, or frameworks. Unknowns to confirm: Product wording, data source, analytics events, supported devices and languages, and platform limits.
Check this request
Review the current use of Lightbox. Definition: A lightbox opens media in a larger viewer and darkens the page around it. Release checks: Move focus on purpose. Keep it inside only when the overlay blocks the page. Support Escape and a visible close button, then return focus to the opener. Keep entered data and check small-screen, loading, and failure states. Before changing code, report the evidence you found, gaps, severity, and the smallest safe fix.